Flooring Contractors Industry Terminology

Acclimate the LVP for 48 hours at 65–85°F and 35–55% RH; We stored the engineered wood in the install areas to acclimate; Installation is delayed until the moisture content equilibrates within 2% of the subfloor.

Use a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) for carpet tile; Spread acrylic adhesive with a 1/16 in V-notch trowel; The urethane wood adhesive has a 45-minute open time.

Spec calls for ANSI A118.15 high-performance thin-set; Use ANSI A118.10 membrane for waterproofing; The crack isolation product must meet ANSI A118.12.

F1869 test shows 4.5 lbs MVER—within adhesive limits; We need three F1869 tests for the first 1,000 sq ft; The spec prohibits F1869 on lightweight concrete.

In-situ RH readings average 78% at 40% depth; Install is cleared once RH is below 75% per adhesive; Place probes after the slab is at service conditions.

F710 requires substrates be clean, dry, and structurally sound; Follow F710 for patching and smoothing steps; Remove curing compounds as directed by F710.

Back-butter 24x24 LFT to achieve 95% coverage; Use a margin trowel to back-butter the stone; Back-buttering helps reduce voids and lippage.

Maintain a uniform bond line thickness with the proper trowel; Avoid excessive adhesive that contaminates the bond line; Peeling indicates a weak bond line due to contamination.

Add base under casework via CO #5; Moisture mitigation added by change order; CO increases the schedule by three days.

The SPC has a 5G click-lock profile; Angle-tap the plank to engage the click; Click systems require a flat substrate to prevent joint stress.

Submit O&M manuals and warranties at closeout; Schedule owner training before closeout; Punch list items must be cleared for closeout.

Shot blast to CSP 3 before epoxy; ICRI chips indicate we achieved CSP 2; SLU manufacturer requires CSP 3–5.

Install 4 in rubber cove base with cove toe; Outside corners require pre-molded cove pieces; Use contact adhesive for cove base on columns.

Adhesive coverage is 250–300 sf/gal with 1/16 in V-notch; One bag of SLU covers 50 sf at 1/8 in; Estimate sealer at 400 sf/gal per coat.

Specify a membrane meeting ANSI A118.12; Treat existing cracks with a 3x width band; Use a full-field membrane for higher risk slabs.

Allow 72 hours before heavy traffic; Epoxy needs a full cure before resinous topcoat; Grout haze removal after mortar cure per data sheet.

Verify framing meets L/360 for ceramic tile; Natural stone requires L/720; Excess deflection causes cracked grout lines.

Apply lithium silicate at 400 sf/gal; Densify at 200–400 grit in the polish sequence; Excess densifier must be scrubbed off before it gels.

Use PlanSwift for quantified takeoffs; Overlay revisions to update quantities; Export cut lists and waste factors from the takeoff.

Install a two-coat epoxy MVS up to 100% RH; Shot blast before epoxy per manufacturer; Broadcast sand to rejection for mechanical bond.

Leave 1/4 in perimeter gap on floating LVP; Add T-mold at doorway breaks to allow movement; Cover expansion gaps with base/shoe.

Skim the substrate to a true feather edge; Use polymer-modified feather finish under LVT; Fast-drying patch allows same-day install.

The slab meets FF 50/FL 35; LFT requires higher flatness—request a bump grind; Verify FF/FL within 72 hours of placement.

Install vapor underlayment under the floating laminate; Do not pin through a floating floor; Maintain expansion joints at transitions.

Select FloorScore-certified LVT for IAQ credits; Provide FloorScore certificates in submittals; The adhesive is FloorScore compliant.

Diamond-grind to 80 grit then apply sealer; Use a high-build polyaspartic for chemical resistance; Address pinholes before final coat.

Use unsanded grout for 1/16 in joints; Epoxy grout for commercial kitchens; Mock-up grout color for owner approval.

The assembly must achieve IIC 60; Add sound underlayment to raise IIC; Provide Delta IIC data for the click LVP system.

White oak is ~1360 Janka; Softer species dent under heavy furniture; Specify harder species for commercial traffic.

Use a knee kicker for carpet positioning at walls; Final stretch with a power stretcher per CRI 104/105; Avoid over-kicking to prevent seam peaking.

12x24 tile qualifies as LFT; Use LHT (medium-bed) mortar for LFT; Check substrate flatness—1/8 in in 10 ft tolerance.

Submit EPDs and HPDs for LEED v4; Low-emitting adhesives contribute to IEQc2; Regional content may apply to base materials.

Specify 20 mil wear layer for heavy traffic; Use click LVP for floating installation; Heat-weld seams for sheet goods, not LVT.

Apply 12 wet mils per coat; Verify dry film thickness with a gauge; Moisture barrier requires 15 mils DFT.

Schedule mobilization after substrate sign-off; Mobilization includes material delivery and staging; Bill a mobilization line item on the first pay app.

Choose low-VOC MS adhesive for wood; MS handles slight moisture better than acrylic; Trowel and roll MS adhesive per spec.

Adhesive limit is 5 lbs MVER; MVER from F1869 conflicts with RH from F2170—follow spec; Mitigate if MVER exceeds limits.

Wait 10–20 minutes for tack (open time) before laying tile; Exceeded open time—re-apply adhesive; Open time shortens in warm, dry rooms.

Use HEPA vacs and shrouds per Table 1; Conduct exposure monitoring for grinding tasks; Provide silica awareness training and medical surveillance as required.

Layout accounts for a 36 in pattern repeat; Correct bow/skew per CRI 104; Add waste factor for pattern matching.

Epoxy has a 20-minute pot life at 70°F; Mix smaller batches to extend pot life; Discard material after pot life expires.

Wear cut-resistant gloves when trimming; Use respirators during grinding; Safety glasses required when mixing SLU.

Prime porous concrete before SLU; Use epoxy primer over non-porous surfaces; Follow recoat windows on primers.

Replace scratched planks on the punch list; Re-caulk base at columns; Walkthrough scheduled to close out punch items.

Maintain ambient RH 35–55% during and after install; In-situ slab RH must be below 75% per spec; Use data loggers to track RH.

Assembly requires STC 55 for condos; Add mass to increase STC; Provide acoustical test reports for the floor-ceiling system.

Replace damaged OSB subfloor panels; Check subfloor flatness before click LVP; Add 1/4 in underlayment over the subfloor for resilient.

Shot blast, vacuum, and prime per manufacturer; Patch divots and skim low areas; Remove adhesives and curing compounds before install.

Follow TCNA F144 for wood subfloor tile; Use EJ171 for movement joints; Reference TCNA methods in submittals.

Use 1/4x3/8 in square-notch for LFT; Change to V-notch for PSA; Proper notch ensures 80–95% mortar coverage.